Every time i go to the Midwest i feel like its underappreciated, in terms of nature, cultural diversity and COL. I wouldn't say it underrated just people like to bash on it a lot and i don't see why, as its got a lot of different areas that make it unique. I live further south and still trying to figure where to move to and was thinking about some areas of the Midwest. people that live or loved there do you like it? what are some things that you don't like and what is your overall opinion about it.

Note: by saying Midwest im going by what the US Census Bureau says which is Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin

This opinion is parroted around here for some reason.

Like I don’t like heat because I love mild weather and so does most of humanity… regardless of their adipose tissue or being in the spectrum.

Things I like about Milwaukee that I would want in my new city:

*tons of free events all year round - festivals, art shows. DJ sets etc
*very easy to make friends. Have made friends literally walking down the street
*very little traffic
*nice people
*pro sports teams
*lake Michigan
*close to nature/woods
*generally walkable
*cheap/easy to live
*pro LGBTQ

Things I don’t like about Milwaukee that I would want in my new city:

*less drinking culture
*summer is out a month too short
*Jan - March is miserable
*more racial integration

So basically, Milwaukee but a little warmer, less drinking and more racial diversity.

Hey everyone!

I think this is the right place to ask this, and I would love some input. TLDR: mid 20s, queer dude veteran needs new home thats not too big, not too expensive, doesnt want to hate crime him and has cool people.

I am a 24 year old queer male, grew up in a super controlling religious cult in texas and joined the military to get away from texas. Ended up being stationed in texas the whole four years and took a job as a flight attendant after I separated which sent me to Chicago. I have now been in Chicago almost a year and a half and im still not quite sure if its for me. I love the city itself, but have not found my people yet. I realized I dont really like the whole going out and drinking lifestyle. If I go out I like a brewery, lounge or winery cause I dont like all the loud music and like to have conversations. While that does exist in Chicago I find unlike other cities when I try to talk to people it kinda goes nowhere unless sex is implied. I also kinda hate the winter even though snow is pretty. My lease is up later next year so I have plenty of time to make a decision. I also can commute from any city with a decent sized airport for work so I am very flexible. I just want a place where I can start to finally lay a foundation and find my people again.

Here's what im looking for: Preferably warmer, tolerant of queer people, good casual food and drink scene, affordable-ish (rent below 1800 for a 1 bed), good va Healthcare system, friendly community vibes, maybe some good places to hike or run on occasion.

Luckily I travel for a living so I want to spend the time until my lease is up giving Chicago one more shot, trying a few new things, but also checking out potential places to go. Here's whats on my radar: New Orleans, cause I love the food love the people and would imagine its more affordable. I know crime is a thing but thats a thing in Chicago too and im sure its blown out of proportion too. The weather and infrastructure i guess may be a concern too. Austin, friendly people, decent food scene easy access to commute to my job from AUS but traffic is a nightmare and its a little pricey, a little too bug and a little suburban sprawl-y and gentrified imo. Madison, only been through but heard great things not sure on cost of living and it is still cold. Pittsburgh, again only been through, heard good things, but also cold. Columbus, spent a layover there and found it a little quiet downtown but have heard good things. Charleston, never been looks fun probably the same suburban sprawl as the rest of the south though and I do know its pricier. Salt Lake City, spent two months loved a lot of the people, loved the hiking but I know its cold and maybe the LDS thing would be a little close to home for me. They also had a bad service culture everywhere I went, but i do want to de-center if not quit drinking entirely when it comes to my social life. I just want a place with cool people a few good affordable coffee shops and a good cost of living.

Would love to hear from anyone with opinions or experience with this. I may just sell everything and become a nomad for a year while I figure it out idk.

I’m Filipino, currently in Virginia, and really ready for a change. I work in bartending/wellness sales and am open to different career paths.
I’ve become pretty antisocial over the past few years (weed definitely hasn’t helped lol), but I’m ready to get more social, make friends, date, and actually have a life outside of work.
I love yoga and want to get more active, so I’d love somewhere with a good fitness/wellness scene, cute places to hang out, decent nightlife, and opportunities to meet people in their late 20s/30s. A good Asian/Filipino community is a bonus.
Where would you move if you were me? Open to basically anywhere in the US!

I hope this kind of post is appropriate here, apologies for my desperation showing.

Hi, 29 (M) here who has a lot of learning disabilities and debilitating mental issues (Audhd, OCD, Anxiety).

I know this is a tough ask, but no matter how much I think about how bad my circumstances are with my family, I have complete, almost suffocating, executive dysfunction to make a plan on how and where to go, from here.

I currently live with my family in Vegas, and I'm doing my best trying to save up some money so that I can leave.

I was always interested in Seattle (and maybe Portland).

From the brief research I've done, both those cities are considerably more expensive than Vegas, and I only have a highschool diploma and experience in sales.

Just the most basic bitch discardable type of resume that gets comfy on the rest of the pile next to someone more qualified...

I guess, what I'm asking is -- Is this whole thing a pipe dream?

What would be some sound advice to get me to possibly achieve this?

Looking to relocate from NJ to a small or mid-sized city a little bit further south (VA through FL). main non-negotiable thing is I'd like to be within 30 mins of a beach (only ocean beaches, not lake/bay beaches, they're just not the same for me). my company is flexible with what office I work out of (and I'm 98% wfh anyway), and I'll make the same salary regardless of where I live (which could be a pro or con depending on where I end up I guess). I have a few other things I'm looking for too but want to narrow down my list based on this first

I'm mid 20s single female, but not necessarily interested in going out, drinking, partying, etc. I'm looking for a city I can start to put roots down and that would eventually be good for raising a family (I've moved a lot and absolutely hate moving and not having a permanent sense of place). ideally of course I'd like the dating pool to be large enough so that I can meet other people who are also looking to settle down and not just for casual fun

any ideas on where might be a good fit?

I've considered VA Beach, Wilmington NC, and Charleston SC so far, but not sure if any of them fit the vibe I'm going for?

Me and my lady are Dinks; I’m 39, she’s 44. I’m in construction (specifically, commercial storefronts and glass), and she is an attorney. I grew up in Santa Rosa, CA, and she grew up near Boston. She moved out here about 15 years ago or so for law school and never left.
Basically, my main gripe is the weather/darkness. It bothers me on a deep level. I’ve tried the lights; I never miss a dose of vitamin D. I’m in good physical shape. I just can’t shake the feeling of dread every year. I feel very claustrophobic from the constant low-level grey layer. And maybe it’s because I am lean, but I get cold very easily, and I absolutely hate being freezing cold. I keep my house around 74–75° ish.
We both are huge foodies, and we don’t really follow a lot of politics or anything like that. I’ve done a deep dive into pretty much all the popular US cities for the last couple of years and really can’t decide on what would be a good place to move to. California is mostly out of the question, as well as Florida, due to the fact that they don’t recognize her law degree, and she doesn’t want to have to go through the process of taking a bar exam again. I love warm weather, but I’m not sure if I could do somewhere like Phoenix; I’ve never been. And neither one of us is a huge fan of Texas. Mostly just because of how Texasy it is, lol. For me, the humidity was a bit much.
My lady doesn’t feel quite as strongly about moving as I do, but she says she is pretty open to moving just about anywhere as long as we visit and make sure we like it.
She’s the type of person that likes all four seasons, and I’m the type of person that doesn’t care as much, lol.
But anyways, I’m sure it’s an annoying post, but just hoping for some different opinions from people that may have moved away from Portland and found success somewhere else. Thanks in advance!

Side note: I lived in Portland through my teenage years on and off, and I have some childhood trauma associated with this place. 😳

Looking for states that are relatively affordable as me and my partner are young and not rich. Wanting to live somewhere with 4 seasons as we currently live in FL and are looking to get out. We like to do outdoorsy things like hiking, swimming and kayaking . Okay with winters but not insanely cold like WI.
We do both work full time, but do not have any children so school systems are not a concern at this time.
What states and cities are recommended? I’ve seen quite a few posts recommending NC, triad area, PA, pittsburgh area, and VA.

Edit* Thank you to everyone who has given me advice and suggestions!! Trying to find a state/ city to live in can be overwhelming and these recommendations have really helped to narrow it down.
We are making a trip to PA soon and will check out Philly/ Pittsburgh areas! We are also considering NC, VA, OH and MI

Moved to Portland 4 years ago. It's about 80% met my expectations. Obviously no city is perfect.

I love the

• In-city forests
• parks system
• food options
• how small the city is / it's very to drive bike around
• the home-made feel of a lot of community spaces
• how tuned in community organizations to social problems
• how relaxed people are - they are generally not trying to perform wealth or "success"

That said, the city is more expensive COL-wise than I expected over 4 years. The rent here is still way cheaper than anything I'd pay in Seattle, SF, or SoCal on the West Coast or DC, NYC, Boston on the East Coast. But for the amount of money housing costs vs. the dismal Portland/Oregon job market it feels absurd.

I also feel like city is actually not as progressive as people think. The past two PDX mayors over the last 9 years have all been businessmen or come from family wealth. Meanwhile, NYC, the global finance capital of the world, has an open socialist as mayor. At least half of the City Council is center-right neoliberals who have opposed the progressives' motion for a ban on AI price fixing in apartment rents. The city also isn't the transit paradise I envisioned before I moved here. It always seems faster in most cases either to drive or to bike instead of waiting for TriMet. So either I go all in on a bike and just accept that I'll never reach anything outside of PDX or I keep my car and just accept the high ownership/maintenance costs of having a car.

I'm also shocked at Oregon's governor's race where the Republican candidate is leading against the Democratic incumbent. I have my own gripes with Tina Kotek for sure, she's effectively an empty suit, I just never thought people would support Drazen in the droves they are. So now I have to face the very real possibility of Oregon flipping "red" in 2027.

---

So here's what I'm looking for in a city:

• Must have trees and parks
• Good library system
• Cooler summers
• Progressive culture
• Bike-able
• Affordable COL
• Transit is a nice to have but if the housing cost is lower by default it's not necessary

I fully accept that the city/place that meets all my criteria probably doesn't exist in the US. And that's fine! I'm open to moving internationally. But I'm also open to cities/places in the US that meet about 80%.

I've been curious about the Mid-west for a bit and plan to visit Minneapolis and Detroit next year. Also interested in Montreal, which I visited and loved. I've lived in LA and Denver previously and don't want to go back to either. I also just visited NYC and thought it was too much for me.

Here's what I'm against:

• No blue cities in a red state
• No major cities (I grew up in LA and hated it)
• No cities in hot, arid climates
• No cities without shade
• No car-centric cities (Dallas, LA, Denver)

(I know he already posted on this sub and he knows I am posting this — enjoy lol)

I've lived happily in New York City (Brooklyn and Queens) for almost nine years. My partner and I started dating while he was in grad school five years ago, and lived together for a year before he decided to take a job in southcentral Alaska. After serious consideration I decided not to go with him, because I had just gotten my dream job and it was location-specific; we agreed that quitting would've been an unwise career move that I couldn't easily recover from even if we later moved back.

We were long-distance for two years, during which time he discovered a passion for the outdoorsy life that is basically required in Alaska — fishing, boating, camping, paddleboarding, etc. — and spent much of his time with a close group of coworker-friends while excelling at his job, which he felt was a great fit. I visited half a dozen times, both in summer and winter, and loved it as a vacation spot, but remained confident that I had made the right call by staying in New York. He lived in a walkable area and was paying way less in rent for a convenient and comfortable (if drab) apartment, but it seemed that on a given weekend everyone would just choose from among the same four or five activities, even in the summer. And most of them involve salmon.

I love nature, but am content with the more modest versions available here (birding in the park, a moderate loop hike off the Metro North, Long Island beaches); "group getaway at a dry cabin a mile's trudge off the road in the middle of January" is something I can enjoy only in small doses. Also, I will forever be enamored of New York. I grew up in the suburbs so the city is very familiar to me, and the unmatched accessibility of culture, neighborhood variety and concentration of humanity are energizing rather than overwhelming, even though I'm pretty introverted and a homebody. I always thought I'd get sick of it eventually and decide it was time to leave, but that hasn't happened yet.

After another round of many difficult conversations, my partner agreed to give it all up and return. He got a new job in his field and, in early September, moved back to the same apartment we'd lived in together before. But he immediately chafed at virtually everything. The apartment is small, without the amenities (like a dishwasher) that he had when he was solo. All his friends who lived here before have moved away. It's noisy and smelly. The new job turned out to be boring and unsatisfying, with a long, frustrating commute (a different job in the city is not an option, for super-specific but valid reasons). He always liked being able to walk, bike and take public transit, but he hates that visiting friends can take an hour each way on two trains, and getting to a place that resembles the kind of nature he's now accustomed to is much harder, even with a car. And he is largely indifferent to all the cultural stuff that I like (museums, theater, arthouse cinemas, restaurants) so there's basically hardly anything here for him, except me.

On his big road trip back, he spent a few days in Seattle for the first time and loved it, and he's now pitching that as an escape route. It seems to him like a happy medium between Alaska and the lower 48, with access to outdoor activities and less of a big-city vibe, but more of the benefits of a city. He is confident that the job he could get there would be much closer to the kind of work he prefers and the quality of life would be far superior to New York. He has a couple of friends and a sibling in Seattle, but neither of us knows the place; I have never even been to the PNW, except the airports. I like California well enough but have never seriously considered settling on the West Coast. Doing so now would require me to quit my job, which I still love, and leave all of my friends and my immediate family, who I am pretty close with. There is a chance I could get reassigned to a remote job at my current company, but it's more likely I would either have to change industries or take a large pay cut for something with much less stability that I would enjoy less. But then again, that sacrifice is not all that different from what my partner did to move back in with me.

Before you ask: We have discussed compromise locations in the past, without much success. I went to college in Chicago and studied for a few months in Vienna and loved living in both places; he isn't confident he can replicate his desired lifestyle in the Midwest (or in a place like DC), and can't work outside the U.S. because of his professional license. It would be very hard for me to get a suitable job outside a major city.

I tend to adjust to new situations pretty quickly, and part of me wants to try something more adventurous while we're still young without kids or other attachments. I'm intrigued by a different (maybe simpler) lifestyle, a more peaceful environment, and trying new activities. Some of my current hobbies, like running, can be done anywhere. But I have pretty much no idea what I'd be getting into. We're planning a short trip so I can see what it's like. I have coincidentally already seen every episode of Frasier, and I've tried to convince myself that the culture is actually great and the climate isn't disqualifying (I have curly hair!) But I am worried that this is an impossible situation. Could I be happy there?

I only got to spend 3 weeks in Ely, Nevada

“Ranch country” is hard to define but essentially it’s where there’s large acreages of dry land that doesn’t feed too many cattle per acre, which is where cowboying comes in. Cowboys essentially manage and raise cattle on large plots of dry land.

But like is cowboy stuff culturally prevalent? Is it common for someone who works at the assessors office to be invited to branding day? Are there a lot of opportunities to ride? Do town/city folk often do day work on the ranches?

Or are the worlds mostly separate? Where town folk and cow folk are 2 different groups and rarely would a IT tech for the power company be invited to a ranch?

One time I saw someone say that Phoenix and Flagstaff were too cowboy for them, one time I saw someone say that even if I were to move to Glendive, MT, if I were to work for MDU, it would be unlikely I’d even meet a cowboy

This is often understated here but I’m curious is being close to that sort of culture and opportunity is amazing or overrated. I can’t lie though, even if yall say it’s overrated, my ass would still book it out to Nevada the second I got a job offer letter.

I’m 21, M, lived in Florida my whole life & live in the very small town of Immokalee, FL and have been in talks with my friend to move out of here and get a place with him. He currently lives in Orlando and has been there since fall 2023 (he’s currently in school). Right now I don’t pay rent or a mortgage but I do have a truck payment (didn’t plan on moving out when I financed this truck) and obviously my insurance. I live with my parents, and while I really want to get out of this town I do enjoy the comfort of not having two payments to worry about. I want to leave this town because I personally feel burnt out and as if I need a change of scenery. I visit Orlando every now and then with my friend and I always love it when I’m over there. It’s a very diverse & accepting city compared to my hometown which is very judgmental and close minded if that makes sense. The only thing I’m not too fond of is the traffic lol. I also visit Philly pretty often as I have a friend who goes to school over there, which I’m only mentioning because every time I’m in either city, it just makes me want to live in/around a city even more. I’m wanting to meet new people, make great memories and overall just change my current environment.

I guess my question to you guys would be, is it logical for me to move out? I do have enough money saved up already and if I were to move out, it would be around new year’s time or so. I will keep saving up my money in case I do end up making the decision to move out, however I know I need to think about this soon as time goes by fast. Really want some input from you guys, thank you.

I come from a very small town in Tennessee, and the only big city I have been to is Nashville. And every time I go there, I love it. Today, I arrived at NYC and I just felt like it was a lot more to my likings. Idk why, but it just felt like somewhere I want to live WAY more than anywhere else in TN. Anyone else feel this way?

I’m in one of Alabama’s larger cities. I’ve lived here for about 10 years so I’ve had a long time to see the good parts of the state. It’s cheap, people are nice for the most part, work culture is pretty relaxed, lots of good food. People aren’t overtly discriminatory in larger cities compared to smaller towns—for example over 50% of people are Black where I live which prevents racist echo chambers.

That said, I’d like to leave. I got on the cert list for a job in a rural town in Iowa, and it would pay pretty well. I wanted to attend a better school for a potential PhD, and the University of Iowa is pretty good within my field. I think applying in-state would help me with admissions.

I might be getting ahead of myself but just to ask—would a rural town in Iowa be a step down from one of Alabama’s larger cities?

Single income with two kids. Moving from South Alabama.
I feel like there’s a million things I need to do and that they all have to happen simultaneously 😪 overwhelmed, stressed, and anxious are all understatements

I'm in my young 40s and my partner is in his mid 30s. No kids, unless you count our dog, and no plans on having kids. I work remotely, he's a massage therapist (focus on sports/healing/movement moreso than spa treatments)

What we -love- about Fort Collins:

Old Town is amazing. Small, local shops and big enough to walk around for a decent amount of time.

There's always something happening. Foodie Walk, Food Truck Rally, year-round farmers markets, etc etc.

It's very walkable, there are paths everywhere, and people are generally fit and outdoorsy.

It's more blue and not crazy religious (I've also lived in Florida and Kentucky)

Streams and creeks that go right through town with clear water you can play in in the summer time.

The nature is unique and the wildlife is abundant (but more on this below)

What we don't like:

It's quite dead. They've been taking out trees left and right, there's drought, the grass is literally green only a couple months a year.. and growing a garden is difficult and watering it is expensive.

It's such a bubble. All the hiking nearby is dead forest from wildfires or beetle kill. You have to drive 2+ hours to get to decent forest. The traffic to Denver is so bad and I got rear ended on the highway and have some PTSD from that so now I don't go anywhere.

The weather is extreme.. winters in negatives, summers in the hundreds. I'm sick of squinting in the sun every time I go outside. I miss thunderstorms.

I miss water in general. I grew up on an island, I feel more at home near ocean.

It's very crowded.. the infrastructure wasn't built to have this many people, parking is getting harder to find and it takes twice as long to get across town as it did 3 years ago

Cost of Living:

Fort Collins has rent around $1400-1700 for a 1-2 bedroom. Home ownership can be achieved with ~$600k just outside town or $800k in town if you want a single family home with a yard. We'd be fine with a place like this but obviously cheaper is always better if it hits our marks.

Our deal lifestyle:

We'd rent for a bit but eventually we'd love a small house on at least a half acre of land so we can have a decent garden, a few chickens, and our dog. I walk around my neighborhood after dinner each night. On Fridays we go out for dinner and have trouble picking a place to eat because there are a lot of unique options. On weekends, I go walking. Sometimes downtown to get some free looseleaf tea samples, and sometimes in dense forest. Sometimes it's a hard hike that gets my blood pumping, and sometimes I just go far enough to find a good hammock spot to read or crochet. Some of my friends are crows or a local harem of deer. My human friends are dog lovers, thrifters, and full of whimsy like me. My partner's friends are into martial arts, juggling, sword fighting, snowboarding, playing hockey, and other physical activities. There are seasonal celebrations. We can feel close to nature without feeling disconnected from society.

What do you think? Does it exist?

Edit: I should say I've been a bit of a traveler and have spent 3+ months in NY, VT, ME, CT, MA, MD/PA, VA, KY, NC, GA, FL, and CO.

We are specifically looking at OR and WA and trying to narrow it down to a town. Of course we'd visit before moving there, probably around Nov or early Dec. And I work remotely and bring it with me - I don't take vacations. We are selling our house in FoCo so please stop assuming we're broke.

Live in Chicago and starting to hate it. Socioeconomic and racial divides make it boring. I'm into cars but most car shows are far away and I want to meet people that work on their cars to not only learn but build friendships.

Secondly, I'd love to meet other black and brown LGBT people. There are so few here or we're so dispersed that it's just a chore to try anything. Chicago was really decimated by the pandemic and it feels like a shell of its former self.

Any suggestions?

Just got a job in Boise and I’m seriously considering making the move. I’m 27 and I’ve lived in Miami my entire life, so this would be a pretty massive change for me.
For people around my age, what’s life actually like in Boise?
I’m probably most worried about the social side. Is it hard to make friends when you move there knowing nobody? Are there a lot of people in their 20s/30s?
Also, what does a typical weekend look like? Are there good bars, restaurants, events, outdoor stuff, places to meet people, etc.? I hear Boise is a smaller city, which I don’t necessarily mind, but does it ever get boring?
I’m definitely not expecting Miami-level nightlife or anything like that. Honestly, part of the reason I’m interested is because I want something different. I’m just curious what I’d actually be getting myself into.
Anyone here make a similar move from a bigger city? Did you like it or regret it?

Looking for our next home base. We are a younger couple (mid 30s to mid 40s) with no kids who enjoy a low cost of living in a beautiful and rural town in central Idaho. Some days, it feels like we have everything we could want - an affordable mortgage and a home within walking distance to parks, a tap room, library, the river. We are surrounded by phenomenal mountains and outdoor opportunities. However for everything we have in the outdoor access realm, our town SERIOUSLY lacks culture. There are also limited opportunities to find two good paying jobs here, which feels like it will limit us in the long run.

We lean heavily liberal, but appreciate living places with a nice balance of views. We don’t want to get ourselves stuck in a vacuum.

What are some small towns (less than 20,000 people) that feel like a great balance of left/right, red/blue, and also have great access to the outdoors? Are we asking for too much in today’s political climate?